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Fandom Hearts #3
Game of Hearts
Kyla Summers has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime to get her cosplay business off the ground, and only one thing stands in her way. She needs someone to take over the auto shop, and there’s only one person she can think of to call…
Jericho Salomon hasn’t been back in his home town since he joined a biker gang and rode off nine years ago. When his best friend’s kid sister calls begging for help, he knows that he owes the family a debt and he intends to pay. This is easier said than done once he finds that the kid is all grown up…
She needs a pair of skillful hands. He needs to keep his hands off. When sparks begin to fly, can they keep things strictly business, or will their hearts get hopelessly tangled? No more games, it’s time to play for keeps.
Jericho Salomon hasn’t been back in his home town since he joined a biker gang and rode off nine years ago. When his best friend’s kid sister calls begging for help, he knows that he owes the family a debt and he intends to pay. This is easier said than done once he finds that the kid is all grown up…
She needs a pair of skillful hands. He needs to keep his hands off. When sparks begin to fly, can they keep things strictly business, or will their hearts get hopelessly tangled? No more games, it’s time to play for keeps.
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First published January 30, 2018
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About the author
Cathy Yardley
78 books1,413 followersCathy Yardley is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin's, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and that sometimes being a little wrong is just right.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
February 5, 2018
Kyla Summers, mechanic by day, aspiring cosplay costume maker by night, is burning the candle at both ends. Her brother is hurt, and she has the opportunity of her burgeoning career, but to take advantage of it, she needs help. In a fit of desperation, she reaches out to her brother’s best friend Jericho to help out at her family’s garage. Jericho’s been gone for years, and she doesn’t have much hope he’ll come home, but he does and yes, romance happens.
The Good. Where do I start? When I chose to sign up for this ARC, I was teased with the nerdy love angle, mixed with an edge of bikers in the mix. There was also a comparison to Penny Reid, one of my favorite authors. I wasn’t sure if it could live up to that comparison, but I was willing to give it a shot. I’m very happy that I did, because I really enjoyed it.
What impressed me were the surprises. It would have been easy to glorify and gloss over the biker angle. It would have been easy to just focus on Kyla’s love of costumes for cos-players. It would have been easy to make this your typical lily-white ‘verse. But Ms. Yardley didn’t stick to the easy. Jericho is NOT your typical alpha meathead biker dude. Kyla is a BBW heroine who is NOT obsessed with her weight and her negative self-image. She gave both Jericho AND Kyla their own strong individual character arcs not tied to their romance. It made the overall story flow well for me. And she did this while still giving me some solid romantic tension and sweet scenes that made me happy and kept me rooting all the way through to their HEA. Also, she made a ‘verse with diverse characters that intrigued me enough to want to read the rest of the series, so kudos for that.
The Bad. Nothing, really. Maybe a little more time spent on the romance? Eh, it wasn’t that bad, I’m just greedy.
Everything in Between. This is part of a series, but it’s the only book I’ve read and I didn’t spend the entire time thinking I’m missing something. It truly works as a standalone. Kyla’s brother is a bit insensitive and definitely takes advantage of his sister, but their sibling interactions were definitely realistic. Basically, I just want more.
I really enjoyed this and I definitely recommend it. The story is well written, the characters are layered and the ‘verse is one I want to visit again. I’m glad I read this and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from Ms. Yardley.
**ARC provided by author for review**
For more reviews, visit
The Good. Where do I start? When I chose to sign up for this ARC, I was teased with the nerdy love angle, mixed with an edge of bikers in the mix. There was also a comparison to Penny Reid, one of my favorite authors. I wasn’t sure if it could live up to that comparison, but I was willing to give it a shot. I’m very happy that I did, because I really enjoyed it.
What impressed me were the surprises. It would have been easy to glorify and gloss over the biker angle. It would have been easy to just focus on Kyla’s love of costumes for cos-players. It would have been easy to make this your typical lily-white ‘verse. But Ms. Yardley didn’t stick to the easy. Jericho is NOT your typical alpha meathead biker dude. Kyla is a BBW heroine who is NOT obsessed with her weight and her negative self-image. She gave both Jericho AND Kyla their own strong individual character arcs not tied to their romance. It made the overall story flow well for me. And she did this while still giving me some solid romantic tension and sweet scenes that made me happy and kept me rooting all the way through to their HEA. Also, she made a ‘verse with diverse characters that intrigued me enough to want to read the rest of the series, so kudos for that.
The Bad. Nothing, really. Maybe a little more time spent on the romance? Eh, it wasn’t that bad, I’m just greedy.
Everything in Between. This is part of a series, but it’s the only book I’ve read and I didn’t spend the entire time thinking I’m missing something. It truly works as a standalone. Kyla’s brother is a bit insensitive and definitely takes advantage of his sister, but their sibling interactions were definitely realistic. Basically, I just want more.
I really enjoyed this and I definitely recommend it. The story is well written, the characters are layered and the ‘verse is one I want to visit again. I’m glad I read this and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from Ms. Yardley.
**ARC provided by author for review**
For more reviews, visit
February 25, 2022
This book had more sexual lust thru the story over the rest of the novels in this world did. But boy like the rest I loved the story and the issues brought up while still being geeky in aspects and just love it. And I want more!!
March 19, 2018
Kyla Summers is constantly putting her dreams and wishes on hold for her brother. When her parents retired she partnered up with her brother to take over their families auto repair shop. However, once again her plans are getting derailed because of her brother. Kyla has been working feverishly on costumes for an upcoming cosplay event. After her close friends convince Kyla to call for help, she calls Jericho Salomon who left their small town in Washington nine years ago.
Jericho has not stepped foot in Snoqualmie Washington in years. Occasionally he has seen his best friend, Kyla's brother but when Kyla calls for help he heads home. He knows the timing is not the best as his club is talking about expansion but the Summers have always been there for him. Seeing Kyla though throws him for a loop, he wants her but she is off limits or is she?
You had me at biker vs geek. This was a slow build romance story that swept me off my feet. Jericho you can visualize and has a confidence about him that just radiates through the story. Loved Kyla she is quirky and such an interesting character. You pick this book up and you don't put it down until it is finished. Excellent read.
Jericho has not stepped foot in Snoqualmie Washington in years. Occasionally he has seen his best friend, Kyla's brother but when Kyla calls for help he heads home. He knows the timing is not the best as his club is talking about expansion but the Summers have always been there for him. Seeing Kyla though throws him for a loop, he wants her but she is off limits or is she?
You had me at biker vs geek. This was a slow build romance story that swept me off my feet. Jericho you can visualize and has a confidence about him that just radiates through the story. Loved Kyla she is quirky and such an interesting character. You pick this book up and you don't put it down until it is finished. Excellent read.
January 29, 2018
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I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
5 stars — You know when you eat an amazing meal of your favourite foods, and when you’re finished you slump back in your chair with a smile of pure giddiness and satisfaction on your face? Yeah, that’s what I looked like when I finished this book. I’m not sure I’ll even be able to accurately describe what I loved about this book, other than just everything. Sometimes a book just fits for you, you know? This was just a Lenore book through and through. This was a book full of absolutely fantastic characters, great interactions, amazing chemistry, and those little bits of extra that just put it over the top.
Kyla was just awesomesauce. She was so unique and sunny and sassy…not to mention tough and vulnerable and adorable. She made me laugh with her antics, and she made my heart hurt with how torn she was between loyalty to her family and wanting to chase her dream. And as a “bigger” heroine, she had a few insecurities, but I appreciated that it didn’t actually play that big a role in who she was. She still had confidence, and it added a note of body positivity to the story as well.
And then we have Jericho!! He was adorable himself…my hubby was trying to predict why I loved this story, and he was like “beta hero?” But no…he’s not. He’s not really alpha either, he’s just Jericho. I kind of like those heroes the most. He was thoughtful, sweet, and I loved the way his character grew in so many ways over the course of the story. I didn’t expect such a rich secondary story with his family…well, I expected the motorcycle family story, but I’m talking about his Mom. I LOVED the way that played out, there was a lot of richness and seeing things from an adult perspective, and reconciliation that feels realistic and satisfying. And I didn’t expect the bit of diversity that he added! It was interesting, b/c it wasn’t a large part of the story, it didn’t take over the storyline. Rather, it just sort of was, and it was a part of who Jericho was, but…I don’t know how to describe it, it was just normal. I like when the diversity is added in such a way as it doesn’t feel intentional, it just is.
And OMG, the two of them together were chemistry gold. And not just steamy chemistry, but that first moment when he comes back and you could just FEEL the friendship that they had together, it came across so effortlessly on the pages with the way they bantered and teased and cared for each other. It was so genuine and sassy and awesome. And when they went from friendship to more?? OH YEAH BABY!!!
As with many of my favourite books/series, this one is chock full of fabulous secondary characters that make the most of the short screen time they have. Even Kyla’s brother Billy amused me…he was kind of a jerk, but for some reason it just lent authenticity to their sibling relationship.
AND THEN there’s the element that just sets this series over the top for me: epic geeky/nerdy/fandom awesomeness. I don’t fan to this level, but I always admired those who would cosplay. And all those little nerdy references just made my heart happy.
So yeah. I know most people won’t read all the way through a 5 star review, but if you’re a follower of my reviews at all, you’ll understand how rare it is for me to give a full 5 stars. Does it mean a book is perfect? Nah. But I’m a gut rater, and this book just made me so freaking happy, I wanted to read it again when I finished it. <3
I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
5 stars — You know when you eat an amazing meal of your favourite foods, and when you’re finished you slump back in your chair with a smile of pure giddiness and satisfaction on your face? Yeah, that’s what I looked like when I finished this book. I’m not sure I’ll even be able to accurately describe what I loved about this book, other than just everything. Sometimes a book just fits for you, you know? This was just a Lenore book through and through. This was a book full of absolutely fantastic characters, great interactions, amazing chemistry, and those little bits of extra that just put it over the top.
Kyla was just awesomesauce. She was so unique and sunny and sassy…not to mention tough and vulnerable and adorable. She made me laugh with her antics, and she made my heart hurt with how torn she was between loyalty to her family and wanting to chase her dream. And as a “bigger” heroine, she had a few insecurities, but I appreciated that it didn’t actually play that big a role in who she was. She still had confidence, and it added a note of body positivity to the story as well.
And then we have Jericho!! He was adorable himself…my hubby was trying to predict why I loved this story, and he was like “beta hero?” But no…he’s not. He’s not really alpha either, he’s just Jericho. I kind of like those heroes the most. He was thoughtful, sweet, and I loved the way his character grew in so many ways over the course of the story. I didn’t expect such a rich secondary story with his family…well, I expected the motorcycle family story, but I’m talking about his Mom. I LOVED the way that played out, there was a lot of richness and seeing things from an adult perspective, and reconciliation that feels realistic and satisfying. And I didn’t expect the bit of diversity that he added! It was interesting, b/c it wasn’t a large part of the story, it didn’t take over the storyline. Rather, it just sort of was, and it was a part of who Jericho was, but…I don’t know how to describe it, it was just normal. I like when the diversity is added in such a way as it doesn’t feel intentional, it just is.
And OMG, the two of them together were chemistry gold. And not just steamy chemistry, but that first moment when he comes back and you could just FEEL the friendship that they had together, it came across so effortlessly on the pages with the way they bantered and teased and cared for each other. It was so genuine and sassy and awesome. And when they went from friendship to more?? OH YEAH BABY!!!
As with many of my favourite books/series, this one is chock full of fabulous secondary characters that make the most of the short screen time they have. Even Kyla’s brother Billy amused me…he was kind of a jerk, but for some reason it just lent authenticity to their sibling relationship.
AND THEN there’s the element that just sets this series over the top for me: epic geeky/nerdy/fandom awesomeness. I don’t fan to this level, but I always admired those who would cosplay. And all those little nerdy references just made my heart happy.
So yeah. I know most people won’t read all the way through a 5 star review, but if you’re a follower of my reviews at all, you’ll understand how rare it is for me to give a full 5 stars. Does it mean a book is perfect? Nah. But I’m a gut rater, and this book just made me so freaking happy, I wanted to read it again when I finished it. <3
January 28, 2018
Game of Hearts: A Geek Girl Rom Com (Fandom Hearts) by Cathy Yardley is simply amazing. We have met Kyla Summers in a previous book, but this time she is the featured star of the story. She is overwhelmed by an obligation to help her brother with their family business, and a desire to do what makes her happy.
Enter Jericho Salomon to help her out with the auto shop, but he makes her realize a few things about herself as well. This story was amazing. I loved the references to Game of Thrones, Sons of Anarchy, and other pop culture references.
The author knows how to spin a story, and how to write characters that make you fall in love with them. The strong female friendship was in full force in this story. Along with the steamy romantic scenes between Jericho and Kyla.
I will recommend this story to others. I give it 5/5 Platypires
Enter Jericho Salomon to help her out with the auto shop, but he makes her realize a few things about herself as well. This story was amazing. I loved the references to Game of Thrones, Sons of Anarchy, and other pop culture references.
The author knows how to spin a story, and how to write characters that make you fall in love with them. The strong female friendship was in full force in this story. Along with the steamy romantic scenes between Jericho and Kyla.
I will recommend this story to others. I give it 5/5 Platypires
August 27, 2018
See this review and more on Books and Ladders!
Actual Rating: 3.5*
This was pretty cute. I would have liked a little bit more to solidify the main character's relationship but overall I liked reading about them!
Actual Rating: 3.5*
This was pretty cute. I would have liked a little bit more to solidify the main character's relationship but overall I liked reading about them!
January 16, 2018
J'avoue que j'ai pas trop été portée par l'univers professionnel où travaille Kyla et son frère, les trucs de garage sont pas pour moi. De même, que Jericho qui fait partie d'un groupe d'amateur de moto (attention c'est pas des bikers !), c'est pas ce qui me fait rêver.
Parcontre, j'ai beaucoup apprécié les liens entre les héros, ils se connaissent depuis longtemps et même s'ils se sont perdus de vue pendant 9 ans, quand ils se retrouvent c'est comme s'ils ne s'étaient jamais quittés. Ils reprennent aussi leur bonne vieilles habitudes de titiller le frère de Kyla en faisant semblant de flirter un max entre eux xD ça donne quelques petites scènes assez drôles.
Un peu dommage qu'il n'y ai pas eu assez de place pour la réunion de Jericho avec sa famille. J'ai plus apprécié la résolution de ses problèmes avec sa mère que tout ce qui se passe avec les motards. C'est un peu lourd et on voit venir le truc dès le premier chapitre.
Mention spéciale pour le concours de cosplay à la fin avec un hommage à Game of Thrones, j'ai bien couiné à ce moment-là ♥
-------
I admit that I was not found of the professional world where Kyla and his brother work, the auto-repair shop stuff is not for me. Also, Jericho being part of a group of motorcycle aficionados (they're not bikers!) is not what makes me dream.
On the other hand, I really appreciated the friendship between the heroes, they have known each other for a long time and even if they lost sight of each other for 9 years, when they meet again, it is as if they had never left each other. They also pick up on their good old habits of teasing Kyla's brother by pretending to flirt xD *it gives some pretty funny scenes.
A pity that there was not enough room for Jericho's meeting with his family. I enjoyed him solving his problems with his mother more than what happens with the "bikers". It's a little clumsy and we see the thing coming from the first chapter.
Special mention for the cosplay contest at the end with a tribute to Game of Thrones, I loved that part ♥
***ARC received for a honest review***
Parcontre, j'ai beaucoup apprécié les liens entre les héros, ils se connaissent depuis longtemps et même s'ils se sont perdus de vue pendant 9 ans, quand ils se retrouvent c'est comme s'ils ne s'étaient jamais quittés. Ils reprennent aussi leur bonne vieilles habitudes de titiller le frère de Kyla en faisant semblant de flirter un max entre eux xD ça donne quelques petites scènes assez drôles.
Un peu dommage qu'il n'y ai pas eu assez de place pour la réunion de Jericho avec sa famille. J'ai plus apprécié la résolution de ses problèmes avec sa mère que tout ce qui se passe avec les motards. C'est un peu lourd et on voit venir le truc dès le premier chapitre.
Mention spéciale pour le concours de cosplay à la fin avec un hommage à Game of Thrones, j'ai bien couiné à ce moment-là ♥
-------
I admit that I was not found of the professional world where Kyla and his brother work, the auto-repair shop stuff is not for me. Also, Jericho being part of a group of motorcycle aficionados (they're not bikers!) is not what makes me dream.
On the other hand, I really appreciated the friendship between the heroes, they have known each other for a long time and even if they lost sight of each other for 9 years, when they meet again, it is as if they had never left each other. They also pick up on their good old habits of teasing Kyla's brother by pretending to flirt xD *it gives some pretty funny scenes.
A pity that there was not enough room for Jericho's meeting with his family. I enjoyed him solving his problems with his mother more than what happens with the "bikers". It's a little clumsy and we see the thing coming from the first chapter.
Special mention for the cosplay contest at the end with a tribute to Game of Thrones, I loved that part ♥
***ARC received for a honest review***
January 30, 2018
Kyla runs a mechanic shop with her brother Billy, one they inherited from their now retired parents. Billy is happy to let Kyla do the paperwork and work out in the shop as well as take over all operations when he needs to take a vacation. After he breaks his arm, though, all responsibilities fall to Kyla. She had other plans. She wanted to submit costumes for a contest that's coming up in a few weeks. This is her dream, so she calls the only person she knows to help. Jericho Salomon hasn't been in town for years, for good reason, but he can't ignore his childhood best friend's little sister.
I loved absolutely everything about this book. Breakout Novels don't just happen. Not every published novel out there is a breakout novel. Breakout novels are 10/5 stars. They are books you can't put down. They are books you read entirely in one sitting. They are books you remember and enthusiastically tell everyone about. Every single one of Cathy Yardley's books has been a breakout novel. The plot is excellent. The characters are larger-than-life, but also endearing and realistic. The stakes are real.
I adored the relationship between Kyla and all her friends. I loved the fact that the previous books' characters showed up in this book as well as all the other Fandom Hearts books.
I got really mad at Billy for assuming that Kyla was better suited for the business paperwork than he was and for assuming her hopes and dreams weren't as important because they were artistic based.
I can't wait to get the next Fandom Hearts book to read!
I received a free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
I loved absolutely everything about this book. Breakout Novels don't just happen. Not every published novel out there is a breakout novel. Breakout novels are 10/5 stars. They are books you can't put down. They are books you read entirely in one sitting. They are books you remember and enthusiastically tell everyone about. Every single one of Cathy Yardley's books has been a breakout novel. The plot is excellent. The characters are larger-than-life, but also endearing and realistic. The stakes are real.
I adored the relationship between Kyla and all her friends. I loved the fact that the previous books' characters showed up in this book as well as all the other Fandom Hearts books.
I got really mad at Billy for assuming that Kyla was better suited for the business paperwork than he was and for assuming her hopes and dreams weren't as important because they were artistic based.
I can't wait to get the next Fandom Hearts book to read!
I received a free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.
August 11, 2019
I’m still happily chugging my way through the Fandom Hearts series, and Game of Hearts is so good it rivals the first book and still my favorite, Level Up. Kyla wants to be a costume designer but spends most of her time working as a mechanic at her family’s garage. When her brother breaks his arm and can’t help out around the shop for several weeks, out of desperation Kyla calls their old friend Jericho to ask if he can fill in. When Jericho shows up, it’s super awkward because he hasn’t been in town in years and Kyla has--ahem--grown up quite a bit in the meantime. They fight their attraction for a while because of age difference, brother’s best friend bullshit reasons, but of course eventually they wise up and get naked. This whole series is like a warm hug, I just love it.
April 12, 2018
A great read
I’m such a sucker for self assured, competent heroines. Cathy Yardley does not disappoint with Kyla. Jericho is a hero with depth. Great humor, solid story, diversity handled in a culturally sensitive and authentic way, smoking hot dude, nerd cred, and fun smexy times. This book hit all the marks. Off to go reread the first two books in the series.
I’m such a sucker for self assured, competent heroines. Cathy Yardley does not disappoint with Kyla. Jericho is a hero with depth. Great humor, solid story, diversity handled in a culturally sensitive and authentic way, smoking hot dude, nerd cred, and fun smexy times. This book hit all the marks. Off to go reread the first two books in the series.
March 4, 2021
Cute but not as compelling as the first books in the series. Also, it really needed an editor/proofreader to pick up on all the little errors scattered throughout. For that reason it gets two stars instead of three.
January 20, 2018
Kyla Summers has been running ragged operating both the business and mechanic side of the auto shop she and her brother inherited from their father so he could enjoy traveling. With her brother off cavorting on his own vacations as he pleases, Kyla is left to man the shop on her own while also trying to get her own costume design business off the ground. When Billy returns from a trip with a broken arm and Kyla's costumes are due at convention only a month off, she throws in the towel and calls long-time friend Jericho Salomon.
Jericho Salomon spent the last of his time in town with the Summers, his second family. After leaving home at 17, he met up with some motorcycle gearheads and joined a crew called the Machinists. They are not a motorcycle club or gang, and Jericho is intent on keeping their foundation alive by helping out the young men who are interested, just as Pedro and Mike helped him.
Mike and Pedro are expanding the crew, but it is growing too large too fast and presenting problems with a younger recruit trying to throw a coupe and get the other youngers to rebel and go gangster in Hell's Angels fashion. With an upcoming rally, Jericho is pressed for time to come back to help the Summers while things continue to escalate with his motorcycle friends.
Jericho is a machine himself in the shop. Standing at 6 foot 7 inches tall, he's a mammoth of a man. He easily falls into working in the shop, and bunks above the shop in Kyla's little apartment. Despite not seeing one another for nine years, they fall easily back into their old habits and friendship. The banter flows with ease and helps bring out their natures. In front of Billy, it is full of flirtation and only to get his hackles up. For Jericho, it's all a ruse. But for Kyla...she's crushed on Jericho near all her life. When Jericho finds Kyla falling out of her the daybed in her costume room, he brings her back to her room and the huge California king bed she gave up for him.
Jericho coming back to his hometown is not something he does lightly, and not by choice. He strictly comes to help the Summers. He and Billy have been friends for so long, it's like a small debt to repay the Summers family. Billy throws a fit that Kyla asked because being back near his mom and all the bad from his childhood isn't good for him.
Kyla's brother Billy is a domineering, self-serving, selfish man. He belittles Kyla for wanting to pursue her passion, and does not admit to sloughing off all the work on her shoulders while demanding she step up while she's been doing double duty for most of the year. He treated his sister abominably and wasn't even apologetic about it. When Kyla finally tries to sort of stand up for herself, he doesn't even recognize her points. He was manipulative and pulled the "family business" strings about heartbreaking their father if she walked away to do her costumes.
Jericho makes his own deal with Kyla. She is to work on her costumes for the convention while he handles the entire shop. Kyla's dream of winning this phenomenal costume contest and kick-starting her business seems to be more of a reality than she ever thought possible. Kyla's hardwork hits a hard wall when she discovers the contest requirements include male costumes and a couples costume. She's worked the entire time on only the three, including a Daenerys Game of Thrones costume. When motorcycle trouble draws Jericho away, Kyla's forced back into the shop. Her dreams are going down the drain.
Jericho's motorcycle crew brings trouble back to Kyla's shop, which she uses to her advantage. Jericho also lays some of his own demons to rest. I wish that there was some more focus on Jericho's family to round out and give more life to Jericho's past, but the interactions are enough to explain why Jericho has stayed away all these years and understand his mother's reasons.
I loved the descriptions of Kyla's costume making and her passion for doing something different. Like Hailey in the previous book in the series, Kyla carries the weight of the family business on her shoulders. I wish she had stood up to her brother sooner and took more of a stand because nothing is really resolved between them, unlike Jericho's problems with his mother. I loved Jericho's character and the strength and compassion he displays for Kyla and for his mother.
A sweet friends-to-lovers/best friend's little sister trope brings heart and humor to the table. The sweet and savory mix of bad boy and sweet girl, Kyla's gender-breaking roles, and the fandom fashion brought out a sweet, savory romance.
Jericho Salomon spent the last of his time in town with the Summers, his second family. After leaving home at 17, he met up with some motorcycle gearheads and joined a crew called the Machinists. They are not a motorcycle club or gang, and Jericho is intent on keeping their foundation alive by helping out the young men who are interested, just as Pedro and Mike helped him.
Mike and Pedro are expanding the crew, but it is growing too large too fast and presenting problems with a younger recruit trying to throw a coupe and get the other youngers to rebel and go gangster in Hell's Angels fashion. With an upcoming rally, Jericho is pressed for time to come back to help the Summers while things continue to escalate with his motorcycle friends.
Jericho is a machine himself in the shop. Standing at 6 foot 7 inches tall, he's a mammoth of a man. He easily falls into working in the shop, and bunks above the shop in Kyla's little apartment. Despite not seeing one another for nine years, they fall easily back into their old habits and friendship. The banter flows with ease and helps bring out their natures. In front of Billy, it is full of flirtation and only to get his hackles up. For Jericho, it's all a ruse. But for Kyla...she's crushed on Jericho near all her life. When Jericho finds Kyla falling out of her the daybed in her costume room, he brings her back to her room and the huge California king bed she gave up for him.
Jericho coming back to his hometown is not something he does lightly, and not by choice. He strictly comes to help the Summers. He and Billy have been friends for so long, it's like a small debt to repay the Summers family. Billy throws a fit that Kyla asked because being back near his mom and all the bad from his childhood isn't good for him.
Kyla's brother Billy is a domineering, self-serving, selfish man. He belittles Kyla for wanting to pursue her passion, and does not admit to sloughing off all the work on her shoulders while demanding she step up while she's been doing double duty for most of the year. He treated his sister abominably and wasn't even apologetic about it. When Kyla finally tries to sort of stand up for herself, he doesn't even recognize her points. He was manipulative and pulled the "family business" strings about heartbreaking their father if she walked away to do her costumes.
Jericho makes his own deal with Kyla. She is to work on her costumes for the convention while he handles the entire shop. Kyla's dream of winning this phenomenal costume contest and kick-starting her business seems to be more of a reality than she ever thought possible. Kyla's hardwork hits a hard wall when she discovers the contest requirements include male costumes and a couples costume. She's worked the entire time on only the three, including a Daenerys Game of Thrones costume. When motorcycle trouble draws Jericho away, Kyla's forced back into the shop. Her dreams are going down the drain.
Jericho's motorcycle crew brings trouble back to Kyla's shop, which she uses to her advantage. Jericho also lays some of his own demons to rest. I wish that there was some more focus on Jericho's family to round out and give more life to Jericho's past, but the interactions are enough to explain why Jericho has stayed away all these years and understand his mother's reasons.
I loved the descriptions of Kyla's costume making and her passion for doing something different. Like Hailey in the previous book in the series, Kyla carries the weight of the family business on her shoulders. I wish she had stood up to her brother sooner and took more of a stand because nothing is really resolved between them, unlike Jericho's problems with his mother. I loved Jericho's character and the strength and compassion he displays for Kyla and for his mother.
A sweet friends-to-lovers/best friend's little sister trope brings heart and humor to the table. The sweet and savory mix of bad boy and sweet girl, Kyla's gender-breaking roles, and the fandom fashion brought out a sweet, savory romance.
February 1, 2018
http://celebrityreaders.com/2018/01/3...
I loved this book. I’d say it was better than the last one really. From the cover to the nerdiness I felt like the mother-ship had called me home!
Kyla was spunky and a furiously hard worker. She loved her family and was always there to help them. Especially her douche canoe of a brother who in my opinion did NOT get near what he deserved. I really loved her self sufficiency and the way she tried to brush off other people letting her down. She was upset but didn’t concentrate on the bad instead moving forward to resolve the issue. It showed maturity and is definitely something I can identify with. Also, she was not your run of the mill body type. She was more realistic in that aspect.
The chemistry was amazing in this one. It seems miss Yardley is getting more adventurous with writing her sex scenes. I love how that has progressed and can’t wait to read her next work.
And of course I saved the best for last. ::Sigh:: Jericho, he was the sweetest. A nerd in his own right, how can you not love that? jericho reminds me of my husband, he works on cars and just figures it out without looking at any directions. Its pretty fricking impressive. I love a man who can work with his hands. And this one knows how to use his other body parts just as expertly as well. 😉 Dayum.
Their story just sorta flowed. No slow parts or confusing plot points, its was all tied up neatly and effortlessly, I breezed right though it in damn near one sitting. For a book that is generally on the shorter side of what I read, it didn’t feel rushed if you know what I mean. Sometimes the shorter ones pack a lot of stuff in them but this one was perfect in that way. Just go read the book, hell go read the whole series so far, I promise you’ll enjoy it.
I loved this book. I’d say it was better than the last one really. From the cover to the nerdiness I felt like the mother-ship had called me home!
Kyla was spunky and a furiously hard worker. She loved her family and was always there to help them. Especially her douche canoe of a brother who in my opinion did NOT get near what he deserved. I really loved her self sufficiency and the way she tried to brush off other people letting her down. She was upset but didn’t concentrate on the bad instead moving forward to resolve the issue. It showed maturity and is definitely something I can identify with. Also, she was not your run of the mill body type. She was more realistic in that aspect.
The chemistry was amazing in this one. It seems miss Yardley is getting more adventurous with writing her sex scenes. I love how that has progressed and can’t wait to read her next work.
And of course I saved the best for last. ::Sigh:: Jericho, he was the sweetest. A nerd in his own right, how can you not love that? jericho reminds me of my husband, he works on cars and just figures it out without looking at any directions. Its pretty fricking impressive. I love a man who can work with his hands. And this one knows how to use his other body parts just as expertly as well. 😉 Dayum.
Their story just sorta flowed. No slow parts or confusing plot points, its was all tied up neatly and effortlessly, I breezed right though it in damn near one sitting. For a book that is generally on the shorter side of what I read, it didn’t feel rushed if you know what I mean. Sometimes the shorter ones pack a lot of stuff in them but this one was perfect in that way. Just go read the book, hell go read the whole series so far, I promise you’ll enjoy it.
August 9, 2021
I'm pretty sure Jericho is my new book boyfriend because I loved him from the first second he appeared on the page. He's tall, tall, tall, muscular, sexy, and a big teddy bear when it comes to those he loves. He's known Kyla and her brother Billy since they were kids and he'd do anything for them; even return to his hometown where bad memories and an angry fight with his mother sent him running at 17. Jericho found a home with The Machinists motorcycle crew (not a gang!) and he's dedicated his time to helping others in the crew find their passion for riding and fixing up motorcycles. Jericho might be big and intimidating but he's such a genuine good guy and I loved him!
Jericho and Kyla's friendship was so cute and I loved the outrageous, fake flirting they would do in front of Billy just to drive him crazy. Of course, that fake flirting doesn't feel so fake now that they're older and the attraction between them is so much stronger. Kyla has always had a crush on Jericho but seeing him again shows her how much her heart could end up broken when Jericho leaves again. Even with that knowledge, Kyla takes the chance to go after what she wants, and I really enjoyed seeing her feel empowered in her own skin. Kyla has so much fire and passion inside but she's been suppressing so much of it in order to make other people's dreams come true first. She had me rooting for her through the whole book and I was cheering internally every time Kyla stood up for herself.
Just like the other books in the series, GAME OF HEARTS was wonderfully nerdy! I really liked the inside look at cosplay because it's not something I've ever really been involved in. Cathy Yardley's authenticity of the nerd world always shines through and this series just keeps getting better and better.
Jericho and Kyla's friendship was so cute and I loved the outrageous, fake flirting they would do in front of Billy just to drive him crazy. Of course, that fake flirting doesn't feel so fake now that they're older and the attraction between them is so much stronger. Kyla has always had a crush on Jericho but seeing him again shows her how much her heart could end up broken when Jericho leaves again. Even with that knowledge, Kyla takes the chance to go after what she wants, and I really enjoyed seeing her feel empowered in her own skin. Kyla has so much fire and passion inside but she's been suppressing so much of it in order to make other people's dreams come true first. She had me rooting for her through the whole book and I was cheering internally every time Kyla stood up for herself.
Just like the other books in the series, GAME OF HEARTS was wonderfully nerdy! I really liked the inside look at cosplay because it's not something I've ever really been involved in. Cathy Yardley's authenticity of the nerd world always shines through and this series just keeps getting better and better.
February 28, 2019
Meh. Liked Kyla a lot. Loved the banter between her and Jericho. Jericho on the other hand too many tropes--6'-7" chiseled Native American orphan biker sexiest man alive with a heart of gold-- for me to buy into.
April 28, 2018
I CANT WAIT FOR THIS!!!
February 6, 2018
Cathy Yardley is an auto-buy for me now. Smart, nerdy, sweet and sexy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 20, 2020
4.5 stars
Kyla Summers has just found a great opportunity to get her cosplay business off the ground but everything else in her life seems to be standing in the way. She needs someone to help at the auto shop otherwise she won’t be able to enter the cosplay contest. The only person she can think of is her brother’s best friend, Jericho, who hasn’t been back in nine years.
Omg, I loved this book! Kyla co-owns an auto body shop with her brother but her real dream is her cosplay business. As a fellow cosplayer I can understand the drive to create a business out of something you love. I don’t cosplay very often anymore but I know a lot of friends who have tried to turn it into a business. It's not easy and I can understand Kyla’s reasoning on winning this contest and getting her name out there with it. Kyla was a sweet woman unless you pushed her buttons. If you went too far she would unleash hell on you and I loved her even more for that.
Now to get to Jericho Salomon. Jericho is now one of my favorite heroes. I adored him from the beginning. He is talk, sexy, protective, and surprisingly sweet. I loved the friendship that he has with Kyla and that it hasn’t gone away while in the years he was gone. It was like they just picked right back up and he never left. I love that kind of relationship, especially when it leads to a romantic one.
This series just keeps getting better and better with each couple. I am so glad I decided to read it and now am moving instantly to book 4 because I need to know who is going to fall in love next. I can’t get enough of these sisters.
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
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Romanceopoly 2020 Sun - Campus Corner
Kyla Summers has just found a great opportunity to get her cosplay business off the ground but everything else in her life seems to be standing in the way. She needs someone to help at the auto shop otherwise she won’t be able to enter the cosplay contest. The only person she can think of is her brother’s best friend, Jericho, who hasn’t been back in nine years.
Omg, I loved this book! Kyla co-owns an auto body shop with her brother but her real dream is her cosplay business. As a fellow cosplayer I can understand the drive to create a business out of something you love. I don’t cosplay very often anymore but I know a lot of friends who have tried to turn it into a business. It's not easy and I can understand Kyla’s reasoning on winning this contest and getting her name out there with it. Kyla was a sweet woman unless you pushed her buttons. If you went too far she would unleash hell on you and I loved her even more for that.
Now to get to Jericho Salomon. Jericho is now one of my favorite heroes. I adored him from the beginning. He is talk, sexy, protective, and surprisingly sweet. I loved the friendship that he has with Kyla and that it hasn’t gone away while in the years he was gone. It was like they just picked right back up and he never left. I love that kind of relationship, especially when it leads to a romantic one.
This series just keeps getting better and better with each couple. I am so glad I decided to read it and now am moving instantly to book 4 because I need to know who is going to fall in love next. I can’t get enough of these sisters.
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
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Romanceopoly 2020 Sun - Campus Corner
November 12, 2024
This series keeps getting better. I didn't think it could. But I also thought I was being reluctant at handing out 5 stars, but here we are, rating another Fandom Hearts book top-notch. AND, as a fantasy girly I thought I wasn't into contemporary romance, but I guess the geeky side of these makes up for the lack of fantasy? Because I'm eating these up.
I'm not too into the whole biker aspect of this book, but it made me realize how many layers all of these stories have. These are fully fledged characters with backstories. It's amazing.
Where Hailey was badass, Kyla is super sweet. But not in a damsel in distress kind of way. She's a mechanic, she turns on an irritatingly bright-as-sunshine smile for people who want to bullshit her while staying calm and kind, she's just my kind of person.
Jericho is her brother's best friend from childhood, with whom she has always been over-the-top fake flirting to piss off said brother. When Kyla calls him out of the in the middle of the night his immediate response is "Babe, what's wrong?" and I was instantly smitten.
Their flirting in front of Billy is the best. I've been waiting this whole time for him to realize what's happening right in front of him when things start heating up and he's bloody oblivious. It's genius.
I'm not too into the whole biker aspect of this book, but it made me realize how many layers all of these stories have. These are fully fledged characters with backstories. It's amazing.
If you want me that badly, why won't you stay?
Where Hailey was badass, Kyla is super sweet. But not in a damsel in distress kind of way. She's a mechanic, she turns on an irritatingly bright-as-sunshine smile for people who want to bullshit her while staying calm and kind, she's just my kind of person.
Her friend Hailey called it her Aggressive Friendly posture and was convinced Kyla could maim someone with her smile alone.
Jericho is her brother's best friend from childhood, with whom she has always been over-the-top fake flirting to piss off said brother. When Kyla calls him out of the in the middle of the night his immediate response is "Babe, what's wrong?" and I was instantly smitten.
“Would you stop it?” Billy groaned. “Seriously. How could I have forgotten what you two are like? You’re just lucky I know you’re kidding.”
Their flirting in front of Billy is the best. I've been waiting this whole time for him to realize what's happening right in front of him when things start heating up and he's bloody oblivious. It's genius.
March 25, 2018
3.5 Stars. Auto mechanic/cosplay costumer Kyla and her romance with one-time childhood friend-turned-biker Jericho Salomon is one of Yardley's best-penned romances yet. For one thing, there is actual history between Kyla and Jericho, so while Yardley can't seem to avoid the insta-lust trap for her characters, here there is some welcome relational depth that serves as a welcome foundation for Kyla and Jericho's romance. I especially loved Kyla's character arc. A life-long "people pleaser," an opportunity to launch her passion for cosplay into a sustainable career forces her to assert herself and learn to balance her family's expectations without sacrificing her dreams. The Fandom Hearts novels are fast, breezy reads, but as the series has progressed Yardley has proven willing to tackle tough subjects with promising depth -- I just wish she gave herself the room to do so in her stories, perhaps sacrificing some of the spice for more of the quirky character development that keeps me coming back to the series.
April 7, 2019
Game of Hearts is my favorite so far in the Fandom Hearts series. Not sure why the romance between Kyla and Jericho touched my heart more than the first two, but it did. There were also some moments with Jericho and his mother that brought tears to my eyes, which automatically brought this rating up to 4-stars. I noticed the next two books in the series are much (much) shorter, but I will definitely be3 reading them in the hopes that they will be as great as this one!
March 27, 2021
I really enjoy Cathy Yardley's writing and storytelling style.
Kyla and Jericho were such interesting characters, and I especially loved getting to read and learn about the cosplay costume making she does. They have great chemistry and it was fun watching their relationship develop when Jericho returns to town to help at Kyla's family auto shop.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
Kyla and Jericho were such interesting characters, and I especially loved getting to read and learn about the cosplay costume making she does. They have great chemistry and it was fun watching their relationship develop when Jericho returns to town to help at Kyla's family auto shop.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
June 27, 2024
Hot dude and curvy girl? Yes, please.
February 10, 2019
Ok. More like a 4.5
I've really liked that one. I'm trash for Geek romance.
But I hate when i read some "My woman" shiet. Even worst when it's a jealousy sex scene.
I remove that scene, and one last sentence at the end, and it's a 5 stars.
Of course, there is some stupid shit happening, borderline ridiculous, but i'm not reading romance for the realism of it ahahah.
I've really liked that one. I'm trash for Geek romance.
But I hate when i read some "My woman" shiet. Even worst when it's a jealousy sex scene.
I remove that scene, and one last sentence at the end, and it's a 5 stars.
Of course, there is some stupid shit happening, borderline ridiculous, but i'm not reading romance for the realism of it ahahah.
January 30, 2018
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
Kyla Summers is one of those people who will do everything needed even if it means she doesn't get to do what she really wants/needs to do. That will take on the responsibilities of others even though that is not really fair to her. She works with her brother at their auto shop (that they took over from their dad) only her brother doesn't really pull his weight. He goes off on vacations leaving her to do everything herself. He doesn't do the back end stuff because he doesn't want to/she will do it/she is better at it. She has been working her butt off in the shop, but she always wants to try and get her cosplay business up and running. She loves making cosplay costumes, but her brother always makes fun of that and belittles her accomplishments there. I was not a fan of the brother in this story.
Jericho was best friends with Kyla's brother and growing up he practically lived at their house. She has always had a crush on him, but he didn't know. When Kyla's brother breaks his arm on vacation and can't be there to help in the shop Kyla breaks down and calls Jericho to see if he can help. She knows he likes to wander and do his own thing, but he is a great mechanic as well. And she has the opportunity to really help her cosplay business, but only if she has time to actually work on her costumes. Without help there is no way she will be able to do it all.
When Jericho gets the call from Kyla he is there. He owes so much to her family so of course he will help out for as long and she needs. He hasn't been back to his hometown since he left years ago as soon as he could. He knows it will be tough to go back, but he would do anything for his friends. He wasn't expecting this attraction to Kyla though. He is staying with her and she is so strong and impressive. What she is doing with her costumes is pretty amazing so he definitely wants her to fulfill her dreams. He will do what he has to to make that happen.
These two were really cute/hot together. They both like each other, but don't think anything will ever come of it. Jericho has a not so good history with his hometown so Kyla doesn't expect him to stay because of that. So maybe they can just have some fun while he is there then go back to just friends when he leaves...of course it doesn't exactly work out like that. Feelings get involved, Jericho has some other issues with his motorcycle guys to deal with, there is just a lot going on. But if it is meant to be they will figure it out. They were a lot of fun to read.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book for voluntary review consideration
Kyla Summers is one of those people who will do everything needed even if it means she doesn't get to do what she really wants/needs to do. That will take on the responsibilities of others even though that is not really fair to her. She works with her brother at their auto shop (that they took over from their dad) only her brother doesn't really pull his weight. He goes off on vacations leaving her to do everything herself. He doesn't do the back end stuff because he doesn't want to/she will do it/she is better at it. She has been working her butt off in the shop, but she always wants to try and get her cosplay business up and running. She loves making cosplay costumes, but her brother always makes fun of that and belittles her accomplishments there. I was not a fan of the brother in this story.
Jericho was best friends with Kyla's brother and growing up he practically lived at their house. She has always had a crush on him, but he didn't know. When Kyla's brother breaks his arm on vacation and can't be there to help in the shop Kyla breaks down and calls Jericho to see if he can help. She knows he likes to wander and do his own thing, but he is a great mechanic as well. And she has the opportunity to really help her cosplay business, but only if she has time to actually work on her costumes. Without help there is no way she will be able to do it all.
When Jericho gets the call from Kyla he is there. He owes so much to her family so of course he will help out for as long and she needs. He hasn't been back to his hometown since he left years ago as soon as he could. He knows it will be tough to go back, but he would do anything for his friends. He wasn't expecting this attraction to Kyla though. He is staying with her and she is so strong and impressive. What she is doing with her costumes is pretty amazing so he definitely wants her to fulfill her dreams. He will do what he has to to make that happen.
These two were really cute/hot together. They both like each other, but don't think anything will ever come of it. Jericho has a not so good history with his hometown so Kyla doesn't expect him to stay because of that. So maybe they can just have some fun while he is there then go back to just friends when he leaves...of course it doesn't exactly work out like that. Feelings get involved, Jericho has some other issues with his motorcycle guys to deal with, there is just a lot going on. But if it is meant to be they will figure it out. They were a lot of fun to read.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book for voluntary review consideration
January 23, 2018
It's only my second book by this author, and first in this series, but not the last. She's been tons of fun! You know, Penny Reid and The Big Bang Theory type of fun? I certainly giggled at all the Game of Thrones references.
Kyla was definitely not a doormat. She had sparkle in her eye, spine and wonderful warmth to her unless you pissed her off. She was also a talented costumer who really wanted her passion for cosplay to turn into something more.
Jericho had that innate sweetness to him as well despite looking like a bad boy from Sons of Anarchy. He was a lovely geek at heart with same level-headedness Kyla possessed.
And the banter between these two, the jokes they were cracking up were pure gold, which comes from years of familiarity between best friends.
Jericho's interactions with his family turned out to be pretty touching, and there was hardly any asshatery around in general.
Despite not reading this series in order, I didn't feel confused, and overall, if you're looking for a sexy, light, geeky, fun read, I would absolutely steer you towards this author.
* * *
Это моя вторая книга этого автора, первая в этой серии, но далеко для меня не последняя. Весело, горячо, с гиковскими заворотами в стиле Пенни Рид и Теории Большого Взрыва и постоянными упоминаниями Игры Престолов.
Кайла - никакой вам не половичок. У нее крепкий характер, задор, чертовское чувство юмора и внутренняя теплота. Она была очень приятной героиней.
Джерихо тоже оказался милашкой, несмотря на то, что он выглядел как один из Сынов Анархии. На самом деле - он талантливейший механик с большой любовью к мотоциклам, щедростью и таким же благоразумием, которым обладает Кайла.
У этой парочки выходили задорные перепалки вперемежку со смехом и перлами мудрости, которые возможны только между лучшими друзьями, которые знают друг друга многие годы.
Отношения Джерихо с его семьей тоже оказались очень трогательными, а подруги Кайлы заставили меня очень захотеть прочесть остальные книги серии.
В общем, книга милая, смешная, легкая, добрая и читается на лету. Рекомендую.
Kyla was definitely not a doormat. She had sparkle in her eye, spine and wonderful warmth to her unless you pissed her off. She was also a talented costumer who really wanted her passion for cosplay to turn into something more.
Jericho had that innate sweetness to him as well despite looking like a bad boy from Sons of Anarchy. He was a lovely geek at heart with same level-headedness Kyla possessed.
And the banter between these two, the jokes they were cracking up were pure gold, which comes from years of familiarity between best friends.
Jericho's interactions with his family turned out to be pretty touching, and there was hardly any asshatery around in general.
Despite not reading this series in order, I didn't feel confused, and overall, if you're looking for a sexy, light, geeky, fun read, I would absolutely steer you towards this author.
* * *
Это моя вторая книга этого автора, первая в этой серии, но далеко для меня не последняя. Весело, горячо, с гиковскими заворотами в стиле Пенни Рид и Теории Большого Взрыва и постоянными упоминаниями Игры Престолов.
Кайла - никакой вам не половичок. У нее крепкий характер, задор, чертовское чувство юмора и внутренняя теплота. Она была очень приятной героиней.
Джерихо тоже оказался милашкой, несмотря на то, что он выглядел как один из Сынов Анархии. На самом деле - он талантливейший механик с большой любовью к мотоциклам, щедростью и таким же благоразумием, которым обладает Кайла.
У этой парочки выходили задорные перепалки вперемежку со смехом и перлами мудрости, которые возможны только между лучшими друзьями, которые знают друг друга многие годы.
Отношения Джерихо с его семьей тоже оказались очень трогательными, а подруги Кайлы заставили меня очень захотеть прочесть остальные книги серии.
В общем, книга милая, смешная, легкая, добрая и читается на лету. Рекомендую.
April 2, 2021
Originally published at Reading Reality
In the first two books in this series, Level Up and One True Pairing, the fandom in the heroine’s heart was pretty much front and center in their lives. But Kyla Summers’ love of cosplay reads as more like an afterthought in hers – because that’s the way that Kyla treats it.
Or rather, that’s how she lets other people, particularly her brother, guilt her into treating it.
Then again, Kyla lets her selfish and self-centered brother Billy guilt her into pulling all of her weight and most of his in the operation of the family auto repair business that they inherited from their parents.
Not that their parents are dead – it’s not that kind of inheritance. But their parents are off RV’ing on their earned and deserved retirement, leaving both the business and the operation of it to Kyla and Billy.
The problem is that Kyla is the one doing the lion’s share of the work. Not that Billy and Kyla aren’t both excellent mechanics. But Kyla has to be both mechanic and business manager, while Billy is the one who takes vacations while telling Kyla that whenever she wants to take a couple of days its never a good time.
And yes, there’s a problem there in that Billy TAKES vacation while Kyla ASKS for vacation – and gets shot down every single damn time.
Obviously, I don’t like Billy much and nothing that happens in the story makes me warm up to him at all. He’s not evil, but he’s self-absorbed and self-centered and it takes a mammoth amount of swallowing her justified and utterly righteous indignation for Kyla to finally call him on all his shit – of which there is a metric buttload.
When Billy comes back to town a day late after yet another vacation and with a broken arm, no less, Kyla is pretty much at her wit’s end. He can’t work on cars one handed, and the place needs two mechanics to keep up with the business they have and honestly need.
But Kyla was planning on taking every spare minute she could to work on costumes ahead of a Con that’s only a month away. There’s a costume contest, and if she wins it’s $10,000 and publicity for her dream costuming business AND an in with a big costume and geekwear company like Her Universe, but not actually them, of course.
With Billy’s broken arm, along with his unwillingness to learn any of the business side of the garage, Kyla knows it will take her every waking minute – along with any minute she might collapse from exhaustion – to keep the business afloat.
Like always, Billy minimizes and dismisses her cosplay. And pretty much everything else that Kyla wants, needs, or says. So, after a night of drinking and crying on the shoulders of her besties, the sisters who run the bookstore and collectibles shop that serves as an anchor for this entire series, Kyla drunk calls her teenage crush, Jericho Salomon.
Not because it’s a drunk booty call or even just a maudlin, drunk call to an ex-lover, because they never were that, but because Jericho spent his growing up years right beside Kyla and Billy in the Summers’ auto repair shop, and learned how to fix engines right beside them.
With Billy out of commission, Kyla needs another ace mechanic to keep up with the garage and maybe let her carve out enough time to finish the costumes she needs for the contest.
When Jericho comes back to Snoqualmie to help her out, she gets a whole lot more than just a great mechanic, and even more than a man who is willing to work on Kyla’s personal engine until it’s humming a very happy tune indeed.
As much as Jericho and Kyla enjoy each other’s company, both in bed and out, and as much as he wants to support her, not just with the repair shop but with everything in her life, he has too many bad memories in Snoqualmie and too many commitments outside it to ever plan on staying.
And Kyla is much too used to having no one to rely on to trust that he’ll ever come back once he’s gone.
Escape Rating B: I read the second book in this series, One True Pairing, a few years back and absolutely adored it, so I was all in to go back and read Level Up a few weeks ago when it popped up for a tour, and I’m back in Snoqualmie for Game of Hearts.
The title of which, I just realized this minute, is a play on Game of Thrones. Not that there is a Red Wedding or anything remotely like one, but rather that the signature costumes that Kyla works on for that contest are based on GoT.
As I said, I loved One True Pairing, and really liked Level Up. But I had some seriously mixed feelings about Game of Hearts for at least half of the book. Because I wanted to rant and rave about the patriarchy that had conditioned Kyla to believe that her wants and needs always had to take second place to Billy’s.
Not that Kyla isn’t a grown-ass woman who needs to take control of her own life and put herself first because no one else is going to, but I was watching her internal dialog and desperation and wanted to shake her until some backbone filtered in – which it finally did and hallelujah for that.
Let’s just say I REALLY didn’t like Billy because he just never gets hit by a big enough clue-by-four – and not that both Kyla and Jericho didn’t try. Billy’s sense of entitlement was pretty epic.
So this was a really hard read for me until Kyla started to use her own voice and take charge of her own life and stand up for her own self when it came to her brother.
Once Jericho enters the picture the story changed for me, a whole lot and very much for the better. Because Jericho believes in Kyla and does his level best to enable her to fulfill her dreams. That he also falls in love with her and vice versa was just delicious icing on what suddenly became a rather tasty cake, because his belief and real support was the most important thing.
When he does fall down and does disappoint her and doesn’t fulfill all of his promises – which becomes the central dramatic tension in the story, he still never minimizes her dreams or her desires. Which doesn’t mean he doesn’t screw up and screw things up, but it happens because he has a lot of his own crap to deal with and doesn’t handle it well at times because he’s human like the rest of us and not ever because he thinks she’s less than.
So, as much as my teeth ground on this one in the beginning, I was definitely cheering for Kyla and Jericho by the end. So now that I’m three books in, I’m hoping that the rest of this series is going to turn up on tour in the months ahead. It feels a bit like someone is capitalizing on the overwhelming success and utter wonderfulness of Olivia Dade’s Spoiler Alert, and I’m just fine with that if it means more books like the Fandom Hearts series get more attention.
Meanwhile, I’ll be looking forward to the next book in THIS series, What Happens at Con the next time my own fannish heart needs a bit of a tune-up.
In the first two books in this series, Level Up and One True Pairing, the fandom in the heroine’s heart was pretty much front and center in their lives. But Kyla Summers’ love of cosplay reads as more like an afterthought in hers – because that’s the way that Kyla treats it.
Or rather, that’s how she lets other people, particularly her brother, guilt her into treating it.
Then again, Kyla lets her selfish and self-centered brother Billy guilt her into pulling all of her weight and most of his in the operation of the family auto repair business that they inherited from their parents.
Not that their parents are dead – it’s not that kind of inheritance. But their parents are off RV’ing on their earned and deserved retirement, leaving both the business and the operation of it to Kyla and Billy.
The problem is that Kyla is the one doing the lion’s share of the work. Not that Billy and Kyla aren’t both excellent mechanics. But Kyla has to be both mechanic and business manager, while Billy is the one who takes vacations while telling Kyla that whenever she wants to take a couple of days its never a good time.
And yes, there’s a problem there in that Billy TAKES vacation while Kyla ASKS for vacation – and gets shot down every single damn time.
Obviously, I don’t like Billy much and nothing that happens in the story makes me warm up to him at all. He’s not evil, but he’s self-absorbed and self-centered and it takes a mammoth amount of swallowing her justified and utterly righteous indignation for Kyla to finally call him on all his shit – of which there is a metric buttload.
When Billy comes back to town a day late after yet another vacation and with a broken arm, no less, Kyla is pretty much at her wit’s end. He can’t work on cars one handed, and the place needs two mechanics to keep up with the business they have and honestly need.
But Kyla was planning on taking every spare minute she could to work on costumes ahead of a Con that’s only a month away. There’s a costume contest, and if she wins it’s $10,000 and publicity for her dream costuming business AND an in with a big costume and geekwear company like Her Universe, but not actually them, of course.
With Billy’s broken arm, along with his unwillingness to learn any of the business side of the garage, Kyla knows it will take her every waking minute – along with any minute she might collapse from exhaustion – to keep the business afloat.
Like always, Billy minimizes and dismisses her cosplay. And pretty much everything else that Kyla wants, needs, or says. So, after a night of drinking and crying on the shoulders of her besties, the sisters who run the bookstore and collectibles shop that serves as an anchor for this entire series, Kyla drunk calls her teenage crush, Jericho Salomon.
Not because it’s a drunk booty call or even just a maudlin, drunk call to an ex-lover, because they never were that, but because Jericho spent his growing up years right beside Kyla and Billy in the Summers’ auto repair shop, and learned how to fix engines right beside them.
With Billy out of commission, Kyla needs another ace mechanic to keep up with the garage and maybe let her carve out enough time to finish the costumes she needs for the contest.
When Jericho comes back to Snoqualmie to help her out, she gets a whole lot more than just a great mechanic, and even more than a man who is willing to work on Kyla’s personal engine until it’s humming a very happy tune indeed.
As much as Jericho and Kyla enjoy each other’s company, both in bed and out, and as much as he wants to support her, not just with the repair shop but with everything in her life, he has too many bad memories in Snoqualmie and too many commitments outside it to ever plan on staying.
And Kyla is much too used to having no one to rely on to trust that he’ll ever come back once he’s gone.
Escape Rating B: I read the second book in this series, One True Pairing, a few years back and absolutely adored it, so I was all in to go back and read Level Up a few weeks ago when it popped up for a tour, and I’m back in Snoqualmie for Game of Hearts.
The title of which, I just realized this minute, is a play on Game of Thrones. Not that there is a Red Wedding or anything remotely like one, but rather that the signature costumes that Kyla works on for that contest are based on GoT.
As I said, I loved One True Pairing, and really liked Level Up. But I had some seriously mixed feelings about Game of Hearts for at least half of the book. Because I wanted to rant and rave about the patriarchy that had conditioned Kyla to believe that her wants and needs always had to take second place to Billy’s.
Not that Kyla isn’t a grown-ass woman who needs to take control of her own life and put herself first because no one else is going to, but I was watching her internal dialog and desperation and wanted to shake her until some backbone filtered in – which it finally did and hallelujah for that.
Let’s just say I REALLY didn’t like Billy because he just never gets hit by a big enough clue-by-four – and not that both Kyla and Jericho didn’t try. Billy’s sense of entitlement was pretty epic.
So this was a really hard read for me until Kyla started to use her own voice and take charge of her own life and stand up for her own self when it came to her brother.
Once Jericho enters the picture the story changed for me, a whole lot and very much for the better. Because Jericho believes in Kyla and does his level best to enable her to fulfill her dreams. That he also falls in love with her and vice versa was just delicious icing on what suddenly became a rather tasty cake, because his belief and real support was the most important thing.
When he does fall down and does disappoint her and doesn’t fulfill all of his promises – which becomes the central dramatic tension in the story, he still never minimizes her dreams or her desires. Which doesn’t mean he doesn’t screw up and screw things up, but it happens because he has a lot of his own crap to deal with and doesn’t handle it well at times because he’s human like the rest of us and not ever because he thinks she’s less than.
So, as much as my teeth ground on this one in the beginning, I was definitely cheering for Kyla and Jericho by the end. So now that I’m three books in, I’m hoping that the rest of this series is going to turn up on tour in the months ahead. It feels a bit like someone is capitalizing on the overwhelming success and utter wonderfulness of Olivia Dade’s Spoiler Alert, and I’m just fine with that if it means more books like the Fandom Hearts series get more attention.
Meanwhile, I’ll be looking forward to the next book in THIS series, What Happens at Con the next time my own fannish heart needs a bit of a tune-up.
January 30, 2018
My favourite of the series so far, and no not because it incorporated the bastions of modern culture and entertainment to the page, in the way that the author littered the story with reference to some of the most successful franchises of modern times. Phenomenon like Assassin’s Creed and Game of Thrones pepper the story and not just as filler, this an author that knows her subject matter and for me that gave the story a totally modern vibe, a twist that I hadn’t expect and ramped up the realism.
Anyway, onto the characters, the story is based around Kyla and Jericho (I love the name btw!) Kyla was a feisty one, she stood her ground and owned her space, she did what she wanted to do for no other reason than it was what she wanted and that is a rare trait. I adored her characterisation, her creativity, especially in the creation of the costumes that she made, this was a woman the was more than willing to not only stand her won ground but to defend it too!
Jericho, oh my, he was the perfect match for Kyla, the balm that soothed her fiery nature but that didn’t extinguish the flame that she was, he was everything she not only needed but could have ever wanted and I was smitten. I liked that he was willing to share the secrets of his past and in the end, I liked the fact that those were laid to rest, he got what he wanted and that included the woman that was by his side.
The two of them were made to be together, their connection was believable, it spoke volumes without actually having to say much at all, they had a friendship that gave them a foundation for everything that was to follow and it as the intensity of that connection that won me over. There may not have been too much angst in the story, but it certainly didn’t lack attitude!!
Anyway, onto the characters, the story is based around Kyla and Jericho (I love the name btw!) Kyla was a feisty one, she stood her ground and owned her space, she did what she wanted to do for no other reason than it was what she wanted and that is a rare trait. I adored her characterisation, her creativity, especially in the creation of the costumes that she made, this was a woman the was more than willing to not only stand her won ground but to defend it too!
Jericho, oh my, he was the perfect match for Kyla, the balm that soothed her fiery nature but that didn’t extinguish the flame that she was, he was everything she not only needed but could have ever wanted and I was smitten. I liked that he was willing to share the secrets of his past and in the end, I liked the fact that those were laid to rest, he got what he wanted and that included the woman that was by his side.
The two of them were made to be together, their connection was believable, it spoke volumes without actually having to say much at all, they had a friendship that gave them a foundation for everything that was to follow and it as the intensity of that connection that won me over. There may not have been too much angst in the story, but it certainly didn’t lack attitude!!
January 30, 2018
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I've loved everything by Cathy Yardley that I've read and this book is no exception. It's a wonderful addition to the Fandom Hearts series full of nerdy references. I'm such a suck for authentic fandom references and this book does not disappoint. Game of Thrones, Magic: The Gathering, Assassin's Creed, and more are mentioned in such a way that the author clearly knows what she's talking about.
I was a huge fan of the heroine, Kyla, and her spunky attitude. She doesn't take anyone's shit and she works hard at both her job and her cosplaying. It was a lot of fun to read about her sewing and costuming process and I could feel the dedication Kyla has to it. I also loved that she is never a damsel in distress and takes matters into her own hands whenever things go sideways.
Jericho was a wonderful hero and I think he worked well with Kyla. He was sweet, thoughtful, understanding, and he never belittled her passions. I felt his pain when we learned about his past and I was so happy that he gets a happy ending with his family as well as with Kyla.
I'm always skeptical of a friends-to-lovers romance where the friendship is barely seen on the page but the way these characters interacted and the way we see their inside jokes from the first moment they're on the page together really helped me believe in their years-long friendship. All in all, this was a fun, low angst read and I can't wait for the next in the series.
I've loved everything by Cathy Yardley that I've read and this book is no exception. It's a wonderful addition to the Fandom Hearts series full of nerdy references. I'm such a suck for authentic fandom references and this book does not disappoint. Game of Thrones, Magic: The Gathering, Assassin's Creed, and more are mentioned in such a way that the author clearly knows what she's talking about.
I was a huge fan of the heroine, Kyla, and her spunky attitude. She doesn't take anyone's shit and she works hard at both her job and her cosplaying. It was a lot of fun to read about her sewing and costuming process and I could feel the dedication Kyla has to it. I also loved that she is never a damsel in distress and takes matters into her own hands whenever things go sideways.
Jericho was a wonderful hero and I think he worked well with Kyla. He was sweet, thoughtful, understanding, and he never belittled her passions. I felt his pain when we learned about his past and I was so happy that he gets a happy ending with his family as well as with Kyla.
I'm always skeptical of a friends-to-lovers romance where the friendship is barely seen on the page but the way these characters interacted and the way we see their inside jokes from the first moment they're on the page together really helped me believe in their years-long friendship. All in all, this was a fun, low angst read and I can't wait for the next in the series.
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